Who We Are & What We Do

We're a not-for-profit organisation run by a community-based Board of Governance and we're part of a network of Neighbourhood Houses

We offer a range of services including adult education, venue hire, community café, emergency relief, special events, technology support and access to government services

Our reach extends even further through our ability to be the auspicing body for other community groups, who can then weave even more community focused, cultural offerings into our region

Meet the Team

We have some great people on staff. You will very likely be welcomed by one of these faces when you come into Manna Gum and they'll make sure you connect with the right help.

Manager

Rebecca Matthews

manager@mgch.org.au

Bec brings her skills in stakeholder management, advocacy, strategic partnerships, fundraising and welfare to her role at Manna Gum.

In addition to her work in the social sector Bec has a background in media and communications with seven years experience working in film and television production and as a professional writer.

Learn Local Teacher

Genevieve Moore

education@mgch.org.au

Genevieve has worked in education and training roles for many years and in many different sectors including the Commonwealth and State public service, and now the community sector.

She is passionate about people having access to the internet as a means of connecting with family and friends as well as staying in touch with their community and the wider world.

Finance Officer

Simone Goeckes

accounts@mgch.org.au

It's all in the detail and Simone is a wizard at keeping the many financial transactions in order - an essential part of Manna Gum's management and future success.

She's recently completed further studies in accounting so we're very lucky to have her.

Services Australia and Front Office

Rhonda Mallows

office@mgch.org.au

Everyone knows Rhonda - she's a longstanding member of the team and has watched as the number of volunteers and staff has grown: "everyone wants to be here and it's not just a job - they genuinely enjoy it".

Rhonda has lived in the area for decades and enjoys working with the community and in the many facets of Manna Gum life. She's really pleased to see so much happening: more services, more programs and more lovely spaces for people to gather.

Services Australia and Front Office

Sandra Liversidge

office@mgch.org.au

Sandra's calm and commonsense nature is perfect in her role helping people with Centrelink, Medicare, passports, form filling - everything, really - so that people can go about their day knowing that those tricky tasks are sorted.

When she's not helping Manna Gum visitors she's dreaming of seeing her beloved grandkids in WA.

'Our Place' Youth Worker

Annie Pearce

office@mgch.org.au

'Working with young people is a passion of mine. I have been lucky to have worked on several youth projects and at Headspace. I look forward to getting to know the Our Place group and working with them to plan sessions and activities that will provide wellbeing and social outcomes. Having connections with and supporting our young people as a community brings so many benefits for everyone.”

Customer Support Coordinator

Shannon Gee

shannon@mgch.org.au

Shannon joins the Manna Gum team working in the Services Australia agency and in the office. She has an extensive background in hospitality and administration and says she thoroughly enjoys working with people from all walks of life and loves nothing more than helping people - which includes extensive volunteer work at the Foster Primary School and Corner Inlet Stingrays Football Club.

Where we've come from

We celebrated 40 years of operation in 2021 - a tremendous effort by so many local characters over the years.

Foster Court House 1900s

Frontage in 1991

cubby being installed

Foster Court House 1900s

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From the beginning it was a place for social gatherings, but perhaps could have been better sited: imagine sturdy diggers in those early years having to carry their ladies on their backs so ballgowns would remain clear of the muddy track! What is now Manna Gum Community House was originally constructed as a Mechanics Institute which then became the Courthouse, with the Police residence and stables constructed nearby. The first sitting in the Courthouse was in August 1889 and it was used in this manner right up until 1983.

In the early 1980s it was the local women who felt there was a need for services and supports for themselves and their children and after a number of years being housed as a community service in the Anglican hall, the Foster Community House moved to its current premises in 1992. The name was changed to Manna Gum Community House in 2016 to better reflect the services provided to the wider Corner Inlet region - services that have included a myriad of activities, from how-to workshops to Centrelink assistance, playgroups and adult courses, referrals to other social supports and so much more. In essence, though, it's a place to meet, to ask for a hand and to enjoy the company of others.